Libya’s Haftar pulls back east as Tripoli attack crumbles

Forces loyal to Libya’s internationally recognised government took the last fortress of eastern Khalifa Haftar near Tripoli on Friday and pushed further south, capping the abrupt downfall of his 14-month offensive on the capital, Reuters reported.

Military sources in Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) announced their troops had withdrawn from the town of Tarhouna towards Sirte, far to the east, and al-Jufra airbase in central Libya.
The progress prolongs the control of the Government of National Accord (GNA) across most of northwest Libya, reversing many of Haftar’s gains from last year when he raced towards Tripoli.
The GNA gains could entrench the de facto partition of Libya into zones controlled by rival eastern and western governments whose foreign backers compete for regional sway.
The GNA is backed by Turkey, while Haftar, whose LNA still controls the east and oil fields in the south, is supported by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.